Charles maschmeyer



(No Model.)

C. MASGHMEYBR. EXTENSION GHANDBLIBR.

Patented June 25, 1889.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES MASCHMEYER, OF MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO TH EDVARD MILLER d: COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

EXTENSION-CHANDELIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 405,899, dated June 25, 1889.

Application tied retnmy 4, 1889. serai No. 26am'. (No modem To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES MAscHMEvER, of Meriden, 'in t-he county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Extension-Chandeliers; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be afull, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawin constitute part of this specification, and represent, in-

Figure l, a side view, in partial section, of so much of a chandelier as necessary for the illustration of the invention; Fig. 2, a vertical central section enlarged, showing the cramps in side view; Fig. 3, a transverse section through the stationary tube, on line afa; looking down upon the cramps; Fig. l, a modification in the means for operating the tube I; Fig. 5, a side view of the engaging mechanism, looking toward the arm J, to show the connection of the two clamps with the tube I.

This invention relates to an improvement in that class of chandeliers in which the central shaft is made extensible, so that the lamps carried may be adjusted to different elevations. The central shaft is usually composed of two tubes, one moving within the other, one stationary from the ceiling, the other car'- rying the lamps and movable vertically on the stationary tube. A spring-drum is applied at the top, from which a cord or chain extends down within the central shaft into connection with the adjustable part of the chandelier, so that the spring may serve as a counter-balance for the adjustable part of the fixture and as a means for aiding in raising said adjustable portion. As it is very difficult to adj ust the spring so as to support the adjustable portion of the fixture at any point to which it may be setthat is, so that the spring will not be so strong as to elevate the adj ustf able portion or so weak as to permit the adjustable portion to descend of its own gravity-and, further, owing to the fact that the lamps to be suspended are of varying weight, so that the adjustable portion will be heavier at times than at others, some inter-locking device is necessary between the adjustable and stationary parts of the central shaft. Various mechanisms have been applied between the two tubes constituting the central shaft so as to form a clamp between them that will hold the two firmly engaged at any point to which they may be set. Such a clamping device .necessitates a connection to some convenient point below,whereby the engaging device may be raised when the adjustment of the chandelier is desired. These connecting devices have been by means of rods running up outside the central shaftI and independent of it., in connection with the engaging device above, thence extending down to a convenient point to be reached by the hand below; but such outside connection detracts materially from the otherwise symmetrical'appearance of the chandelier. In other cases and the entirely within the tubes, and a connection, as a rod or cord, extends down from the engaging device within the shaft to a convenient point below, so that a pull or push upon this connection, as the case may be, will operate the engaging device. In either case an added element in the construction is necessary to the manipulation of the engaging device. In all cases the outer tube of the central shaft is incloscd within another tube, forming an ornament-al jacket which moves with the adjustable part of the chandelier, and serves to hide the adjustable portion of the telescopic tube.

The rst object of my invention is to utilize this outer tube or jacket as the medium through which to operate the engaging device. The most satisfactory engaging device between the telescopio tubes is that which will make substantially a positive engagement or lock, and this engaging device is usually arranged against the lifting action of the spring, the action of the spring being greater than necessary to support the adjustable portion of the iixture, the arrangement of the locking device being such that, while it will permit the adjustable portion being drawn downward, it will resist the action of the spring tending to raise the adjustable portion of the fixture. In other cases the engaging device works in the opposite direction-that is, against the descent of the adjustable p0rtion-the springbeing so weak as not to raise the adjustable portion without the assistance more common the engaging device is arranged IOO of the hands; but in either case dependence is had-upon the spring to hold the adjustable portion in one direction or the other.

The second part of my invention has forits object the construction of an engaging device which will operate in both directions, so as to prevent the accidental ascent or descent oi' the adjustable portion of the fixture; and the invention consists in the construction, as hereinafter described, and particularly recited in the claims.

A represents the stationary portion of the tube, which is xed to the lower end of a frame B, the said frame carrying the usual springdrum C, and the frame hung from the ceiling by a suitable hanger, as D. The frame and the spring-drum are usually inclosed by a canopy E, attached below the frame.

F represents the second tube, which is arranged outside the tube A and so as to slide freely thereon. This tube carries the arms of the chandelier in the usual manner. From the spring-drum a cord or chain G extends 'downward within the tubes and is attached to the adjustable tube F at some point below the lower end of the inner tube A, and as seen in Fig. 2, and so that as the tube F, with the arms and lamps it carries, is drawn downward the cord or chainG will be drawn from the drum accordingly, and then the reaction of the spring will aid in lifting the tube F and the lamps it carries, as usual in this class of chandeliers.

As a locking device to engage the two tubes A and F, so ythat they may be held at any point to which they may be adjusted, I arrange a cramp H, which is of ring shape and hung to the upper end of the tube F at one side, as upon a pivot. The cramp surrounds the inner tube A and normally stands in a position inclined to the axis of the tube A, the internal diameter of the cramp being somewhat greater than the diameter of the tube A, and so that a pull down upon the tube F will tend to increase the angle of the cramp H, and thereby bind upon the tube A, so as to prevent the descent of the tube F until the cramp H be drawn into nearly a horizontal plane, when it, being of larger diameter Athan the diameter of the tube A,will cease to cramp upon the tube A, and thereby leave the tube F to move freely. Such a cramp singly applied is a common device in this class of extension-chandeliers as a means for engagingl the two tubes.

As a means for operating the interlocking device H, the outer tube or jacket I, which may be the usual ornamental tube employed corresponding slot or opening in the arm J. The tube I extends down nearly to the collar, where the arms are fixed, and t-o the lower end of the said tube I an arm or arms b are attached, which exi end down through the collar to a point below, where they are connected to a vertical slide L, providedl at its lower end with a suitable tip M. The collar or hub of the chandelier is iuclosed by a hollow shell or boss N, and the tip M is practically the usual finishing-tip applied to this boss. l

' Supposing the parts to be in the position indicated in Fig. 2, the cramp H engaged to resist the descent of the adjustable portion, to disengage the cramp H the fingers are applied to the tip M and drawn downward, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 2, which downward movement causes a corresponding downward movement of the outer tube or jacket I, which brings the cramp into nearly a horizontal position, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 2, and so as to' disengage it from its cramping action upon the stationary tube A, and while so held the chandelier may be drawn down to the desired elevation. Then wh en the tip is released the tube I will rise under the action ola spring at some suitable point,

.(here represented as a spring O directly below the cramp,) and which will throw the cramp into its inclined and cramping position, as seen in Fig. 2, and prevent the further descent of the adjustable part. Under this construction the outer or inclosing tube or jacket I of the central shaft serves as the means for connecting the engaging device to aconvenient point below for the manipulation of that engaging device.

While I prefer to employ the tip M as the means for operating the tube I, that tube may be otherwise actuatedwsay as by means of a lever, as indicated in Fig. 4-it only being essential that some device within convenient reach shall be applied by which the tube I may be raised or lowered, as the case may be. While representing the engaging device as a cram-p outside the tube A in connection with the outer tube I, it will be understood that any of the known engaging devices may be substituted therefor, these devices being numerous and too well known to require particular description. The connections between the outer tube I and such engaging devices will readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art, it only being essential that the tube I shall be in connection with the engaging devices, so that vertical movement of the said tube I may operate the engaging device between the stationary and adjust-able tubes. Y To produce an engaging device which shall operate in both directions-that is, so as to resist either the ascent or descent of the adjustable part-I arrange a second cramp P, like the cramp H, hung upon a pivot d upon the same side as the cramp H, but inclined in the op'- TOO IIO

posite direction-that is, the cramp His inf clined upward, and the cramp P inclined downward-and the spring O is arranged between the two cramps, tending' to separate those two and hold them in their inclined positions. Under this arrangement the upper cramp H will resist the ascent of the adj ustable portions of the chan delier,while the lower cramp P will resist its descent. The cramp P is in connection with the same arm J which operates the cramp H, this engagement being made by a pin R extending from the cramp P through a vertical slot in the arm J. The slots in which the pins K and R thus work are elongated, so as to permit a vertical movement of the arm independent of the said pins, as seen in Fig. 5. Now, if it be desired to draw down the chandelier, the cramp H is turned downward, as before described, and the downward pull upon the adjustable part of the chandelier will easily draw the cramp P down upon the stationary tube, the engagement between the cramp P and the said stationary tube being frictional, and which friction is relieved by the downward pull; hence, the chandelier thus operated may be drawn downward to any desired point; but instantly upon the release of the cramp I-I it rises under the action of its spring and again cramps the stationary tube A to resist further descent. If, on the contrary, it be desired to raise the adjustable part, then the cralnp P is raised by an upward movement of the tube I, the cramp H then forming the resistance for the spring, and the cramp H moves freely upward on the tube A without active engagement therewith until the desired elevation is attained. Then the cramp P releases the spring, throws it to its cramping position, and the further ascent is prevented. By this construction the adjustable portion of the chandelier is firmly held independent of the connection with the springdrum, and so that were the spring-drum removed or the connection between it and the adjustable part broken the cramps would still hold the adjustable part engaged with the stationary part. These oppositely acting cramps may be employed with other known connections than that of the outside tube; but I prefer this connection with the tube I for the reasons which I have before described.

I do not claim, broadly, in an extensionchandelier, a jacket surrounding and outside the telescopic tubes as a means for operating the engaging device, the said telescopic paris as such, I am aware is not new.

I claiml. In an eXtensioli-chandelier in which the central shaft is composed of telescopic tubes, the one part being stationary from the ceiling, the other part vertically adjustable thereon and carrying the lamps, the combination therewith of an engaging device between the said tubes, a tube outside of and surrounding the adjustable tube as a jacket, the said jacket arranged for vertical movement independent of the tube it surrounds, its upper end in connection with the said engaging device, and the said jacket-tube extending downward with a connection from its lower end downward through the arm-supporting collar, with the tip of the chandelier below the said supporting-collar attached to said connection, so as to serve as the handle by which the said jacket-tube may be moved, substantially as described.

2. In an extension device substantially such as described, in which the central shaft is composed of telescopic tubes, the one part being stationary and the other vertically adj ustable thereon and carrying the lamps, the combination therewith of two cramps H P, hung to the adjustable tube one above the other, both surrounding the stationary tube, the opening through the two cramps being of greater diameter than the diameter of the stationary tube, with a spring between the two,

the tendency of which is to force the two cramps into oppositely-inclined positions, a tube I outside the adjustable tube, but movable vertically thereon, an' arm extending from the said tube I into connection with the said two cramps, and so that the vertical movement of the said tube I in one direction will turn one of the cramps and in the opposite direction will turn the other cramp, the said tube I extending to a convenient point and terminating in means for imparting vertical movement thereto, substantially as described.

3. In an extension device substantially such as described, in which the central shaft is composed of telescopic tubes, the one part bein g stationary and the other vertically adj ustable thereon and carrying the lamps, the combination therewith of two cramps H P, hung to the adjustable tube one above the other, both surrounding the stationary tube, the opening through the two cramps of greater diameter than the diameter of the stationary tube, with a spring between the two, the tendency of which is to force the two cramps into oppositely-inclined positions, and a connection extending' from the said cramps and through which the said cramps may be operated, substantially as described.

CHAS. MASCHMEYER.

lYitnesses:

GEO. L. COOPER, I. B. MILLER.

IOO

IIO 

